Virgin Media Sport | Football | News Headlines | Football Headlines

Walcott looks to ease U21 pain

30 Jun 2009

England winger Theo Walcott has set his sights on next year's World Cup after falling at the final hurdle with the Under-21s this summer.

Walcott pushed for his own inclusion in Stuart Pearce's squad despite Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger being strongly opposed to the 20-year-old playing in World Cup qualifiers for the seniors just before the European Under-21 Championships.

More on the under-21 final:
In pics: England's under-21 starlets
Walcott 'buzzing' as final looms
Pearce: Final will be about character
Sven backs Pearce for England job

Pearce dropped Walcott during the tournament before recalling him and playing him as a lone striker in the final defeat to Germany when Gabriel Agbonlahor and Fraizer Campbell were suspended.

Walcott said: "It's been a fantastic experience for me to play in a tournament, and hopefully I'll have another in the World Cup in 2010.

"It's unfortunate we didn't get the result but we can be proud of ourselves and we'll be stronger as people after this. We're proud of getting to the final, even if things didn't go our way."

It is expected to be Walcott's final campaign for the Under-21s as he is established in Fabio Capello's squad.

Among the players still eligible for Pearce are Kieran Gibbs and Jack Rodwell, who have been tipped to make the step up eventually.

"It shows the youth coming through," Walcott said. "We're going to have a great crack at it in the next couple of years and fingers crossed we'll be there."

England were crushed 4-0 in the final of the tournament, with Watford goalkeeper Scott Loach guilty of an error for one of the goals.

"We've done so well to get here," Loach said. "It's been a two-year competition for some of the lads so I feel deeply for them. For the new boys who've come in like myself, we know what we have to do next time.

"We've got massive experience going into the next tournament but we have to go out and perform on the pitch. Hopefully we can better ourselves next time.

"We want to come back, prove a point, not be remembered for a 4-0 defeat and kick on.

"Being here I know what to expect going into the next one if selected - playing in front of a crowd like that, a big television audience, that's all I can take from it."

Midfielder Fabrice Muamba added: "It's been a great learning curve, a great experience. We can look back on some great results but I'm sure we'll come back a stronger team."

Sign-up to Fantasy Football and WIN AN X-BOX